Help purchased a used Johnson 235 outboard and VRO missing !

[Heywire77]

The ends inside the box are the same connections so I just used OMC cables so they would hook up to motor right . I would have bought another controller but I have a 1997 Ranger 518svs and were the comtrol is mounted the plastic is molded exactly to that shape . There would be no way to put a OMC comtrol without having to cut the plastic out and it look like crap . It is pouring raining here today I'm going to mess with it some more when I get a chance . I seen on eBay they sell universal controls and on the back of them were the cables hook up there is just different slots and two sets of hook ups for cables .

 

[flyingscott]

Teleflex and morse both made universal controls should be able to find a cheap one on ebay, Also BRP makes a controller similar to a merc 3000 that should fit in to the opening with out having to cut anything. If it was molded to one manufacturers control nobody would be able to re-power there boats.

 

[Heywire77]

Yes I talked with ranger and they had molded plastic for OMC controls and Mercury controls and with my boat being so old they don't have them available anymore .

 

[flyingscott]

Well I will say it that sucks.

 

[Heywire77]

Yes it does , I have seen a bunch of universal remotes but none the exact measurements as mine or alittle smaller that isn't really old . They want over 300 for a new concealed remote . What I don't understand is when I looked at the universal remotes the only difference is the mercury a hooked up at the bottom arms and the OMC hooked up at the top arm , so it was the same arms just instead of pulling it was push . So that leads me to beleive that OMC and Mercury has the same amount of travel for the shift . It has been raining here constantly and it is driving me crazy not being able to work on it and fix the problem . The person that listed they had done a bunch of them was an old post from 4 years ago and he said just attach them on the other side . Like said it would go in forward and then far enough to start giving it has but when I put it in reverse it seemed like it wouldn't travel far enough before stopping and not letting it give gas , I just had the lower unit off putting a new impellar in and had problem getting the shift rod lined back up to put bolt thru it , so I'm wondering if it isn't going in gear all the way I will be able to check it tomorrow hopefully .

 

[Heywire77]

Last question does anyone know what the timing should be set at on this gt175 . I have done timing on inboards and vehicles but never an outboard . I finally got my control box sorted out and was running it alittle today and it seemed like the idle was alittle high and I have the carbs adjusted at idle but some of the linkage was missing on the timing advance so I replaced it and I want to make sure the timing is set right at idle . Thanks

 

[racerone]

You only set MAXIMUM timing advance on this motor.--You do NOT set timing at idle as it looks after itself !----The idle timing is one of the most misunderstood things on outboards.---------Idle timing is the point where throttle plates open.-------Thus it is a carburetor / linkage adjustment.

 

[Heywire77]

See my problem was the linkage was missing off the timing advance and someone I'm sure had moved the screw . And yes the timing I found it is suppose to be set at 6 to 8 degrees at idle . I had already adjusted the throttle linkage were the butterfly's were completely closed . And if I would have left the linkage adjusted were it was on the timing advance it was at 20degrees . I understand these normally are not suppose to be adjusted but the linkage was missing so it had to be put on and it is threaded and adjustable

 

[racerone]

Well---the 6 / 8 degrees is where the THROTTLE plates open.--The ignition timing when the engine is idling does NOT matter.--The more retarded it is the better the condition of the engine !!----Maximum timing advance does matter and that is the only timing adjustment you " set " on the motor.--Note ---This is not a timing procedure like made on an old 283 smallblock chevy.

 

[Heywire77]

Okay racer one I found out today what you meant about timing . I didn't understand the point about wide open throttle timing adjustment . I thought people meant that it was running and I said hell I would blow my motor doing that . So tell me if I'm correct . You pull all the plug wires and ground them and attach timing light to number 1 plug wire and give it full throttle and spin the motor over and you set the timing . On my cover it says 30 degrees at 5000 rpms . So do I set my timing at 30 degrees with the throttle pushed all the way forward and the plugs off and grounded ? That just sounds like a lot of timing 30 degrees , I don't know if this is the right cover on the motor , just want to make sure I don't blow the motor up . I took it to the lake last weekend and it was hell keeping it idle and my carbs are clean and rebuilt and I had the timing set to 6 degrees idle but that didn't help I don't know if I need to adjust the idle up some but when I did finally get it to go in gear without going dead boy was it scary . That motor was humming , the water was rough and I got up to 60mph so quick I let out of it and it had more left . I have been in a boat with a newer Mercury optimax and it didn't sound that good !

 

[flyingscott]

To time it correctly you would put a test prop on it put it in a test tank and run the motor to 5000 rpm and set your timing it needs to be done in gear

You may want to look up the Joe Reeves method of timing. Because that will tell you how to do it with the starter motor and the plugs out. You also need to subtract 4 deg of timing using this method because it will pick that back up when it's running.

 

[Heywire77]

I made sure my timing was set right and it is , but I'm having a problem with idle . When I put it in the water I have to give it alittle throttle to keep it running . I have checked for vacuum leaks and the carbs have been rebuilt and cleaned . There is no mixture adjustment on the carbs . The only thing I can see that I can adjust is the timing , would it be ok to adjust it alittle . And I can't find out what the idle rpms are suppose to be on this motor m anyone know ? Thanks

 

[flyingscott]

Find the screw that controls the idle and turn it up